Perth Waterfront funding continues transformation of Perth

John Day
Minister for Planning; Culture and the Arts; Science and Innovation

The State Government’s work to transform Perth through key urban renewal projects received a funding boost in the 2011-12 State Budget. The Perth City Link project will receive funding of $56.8 million in the next four years to help accelerate the development of the City Square to coincide with the completion of the underground rail and bus station. This funding is in addition to the $336.4 million already earmarked for the rail and bus infrastructure and the $270 million allocated to the Perth Waterfront project.

Planning Minister John Day said the State Government was delivering major social infrastructure to transform the city and accommodate its rapidly growing population while creating new opportunities to live, work and recreate in the city centre. “The Government aims to ensure Western Australia continues to mature into a contemporary, liveable and globally competitive State for future generations. The future growth of Perth is about creating a unique sense of place and a distinctive Perth character which reconnects our city through carefully planned development.”

The Perth Waterfront is an important step in the evolution of the city from a largely functional centre of commerce and trade, to a more diverse, international centre of living, culture, creativity, learning, entertainment and business. It aims to create an exciting new waterfront that is a seamless extension of the city to the river; with a range of rich and stimulating new public spaces for the enjoyment of locals and visitors, access to the water, and cafes and bars to relax. Work will start on the Waterfront project as soon as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is over, with major public works expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The total cost to Government is estimated at $270 million.

In the next four years, the East Perth Redevelopment Authority (EPRA) will also spend $18.6 million to continue the activation and revitalisation of the Perth Cultural Centre, and $64.4 million to fund redevelopment works and land acquisition in the Riverside project area, which will help transform the city’s eastern gateway into a vibrant new waterfront destination. Further improvement works will occur in the Perth Cultural Centre – continuing the transformation of the area.

For more information on the Perth Waterfront project
www.planning.wa.gov.au/

Riverside project, City Link and Perth Cultural Centre
www.epra.wa.gov.au/